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Tuesday, 5 July 2011

Home & Away – 2011/12 Fixtures released.

If you’re a football fan, today is quite possibly the most important day of the year – its fixture release day. Football League clubs have already got theirs and supporters have begun to plan ahead of the next campaign, frankly it’s been agony watching all the Football League fans facebook & twitter feeds fill up with status’ about weekends away, Tuesday trips & of course the final day promotion party.

It’s our turn now as the BSBP Fixtures have been released, I was privileged enough to get a copy of the list ‘hot of the press’ as the fixture calendar came through during this morning’s press conference with Paul Cox. As soon as the fixtures we’re handed to us, audio recorders & notepads were put down and as the camera stopped rolling, the fixture conversation flowed.

Paul Cox seemed very pleased with the fixture computers final decision, whilst he wasn’t really fussed about who we took on first, he seemed pleased that the opening two months of the season played host to the majority of the lengthy away trips, saying that it’s better to make a long journey and play on a fresh pitch on a summers night rather than a tired pitch on a wet & cold winters evening. I totally agree, from the point of view of a fan & a journalist I’d much rather travel a shorter distance midweek during the winter months than have to get home at stupid AM, cold wet & (if past seasons are anything to go buy) ultimately disappointed as my head hits the pillow.

The new stag’s boss’ eyes moved towards the bottom of the sheet & he again seemed pleased with the fixture computers work. At Eastwood, Cox’s side seemed to peak after the turn of the New Year, if this proves the case here at Mansfield the run in will be vital. Just looking at the scheduled fixtures for the final two months, there aren’t many lengthy away trips, meaning tiring legs won’t have to spend too much time on the team bus becoming frustrated & tired. I think this could prove a godsend when you take into consideration the outstanding cup run we’re bound to embark on, plus the intervention of Mother Nature!

Other things we look out for when the fixtures are released, aside from the first & last game and derby fixtures are the games over the festive period, games around your birthday and, if the fixture computers been kind – a weekend away.

So far I’m struggling to find somewhere for a weekend away, the obvious choice of Fleetwood springs to mind & could be a possibility on March 24th, however the other obvious option of Grimsby wouldn’t work due to its placement in December. The only other one for me would be Barrow in September; however I don’t think others would agree.

During this season I’ll be celebrating my 21st birthday, I’d have loved a nice away trip thrown in to some of the above mentioned places, as it is the fixture computers told me to be sensible and within access of my house – penning in home games with Forest Green Rovers & Hayes & Yeading United around my birthday. Ah well, the Sandy Pate bar it will have to be – AGAIN!

Over the festive period it’s York, I don’t think anyone would have guessed that in a million years with both Alfreton & Lincoln in the league, however the fixture computer clearly thinks differently, sending us off to York on New Year’s Day & giving us a nice home game with them on Boxing Day.

The ‘derby’ fixtures with Alfreton & Lincoln will take place at different points, with our first ‘derby’ being one from the football league days as we head for Lincoln on Tuesday 18th October with the reverse fixture coming on 3rd March. We’ll take on Alfreton at Field Mill on 22nd October before visiting the impact arena on 7th February.

Everyone has a ‘special fixture’ a place they enjoy visiting, mine for reasons I’m sure you’re all sure of by now is Barrow, I’m also looking forwards to (hopefully) sampling the new press boxes I’m yet to visit, my luck seems to be in as I’ve got three in the first month! I’m sure you’re all looking forwards to ticking new grounds off your list too.

Paul Cox will continue to put the foundations of success in at Field Mill, I get the feeling once more that this season will be a successful one – now the fixture list is out, the excitement grows.

From opening the campaign at Field Mill against Bath City, to closing it & hopefully witnessing another dream scene on the terraces of Kidderminster on the final day – all I can say is bring it on!

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